ITEM:	CONSENT CALENDAR
6.	CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION OF MITIGATION FUNDS TO CONTRACT FOR TWO FISH RESCUE POSITIONS
Meeting Date:		April 19, 2004	Budgeted: Yes
Staff Contact:		Dave Dettman	Program/Line Item No.: Fisheries 2-4-2C
			Cost Estimate: $7,350
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on April 13, 2004 and recommended _______________.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: Unless significant additional rainfall is received, low stream flow conditions will likely necessitate intensive rescues of steelhead juveniles, smolts and adults beginning in mid-May of 2004. Two seasonal contract workers will be needed to supplement the District’s current staff in order to handle the increased workload associated with conducting rescues in the lower Carmel River. The budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004 included $14,000 for these positions. Of that amount, $6,650 was spent during fish rescues from July to September of 2003, leaving a remaining amount of $7,350. Authorization is requested to hire two seasonal Fish Rescue Workers, with those individuals entering into agreements with the District for up to 284 hours of work each, in May and June of 2004.

RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the expenditure of funds to hire two contract fish rescue workers for up to 568 hours of work assisting the fisheries biologists, river maintenance specialists, and contract water resources assistant with fish rescues during the spring and early summer of 2004. These employees would be paid $11.25 per hour. The Administrative Committee considered this item on April 13, 2004 and voted _ to _ to recommend __________________.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND RESOURCES: Funds totaling $14,000 was included in the Fisheries Mitigation Program as line item 2-4-2C in the Summary of Project Expenditures section of the FY 2003-2004 Budget. Of this amount, $7,350 remains unspent.

BACKGROUND: During the past ten years, District staff has initiated rescues when streamflow receded below ten cubic feet per second at Highway One This has occurred between April 1 and September 3. Staff anticipates that rescues of juvenile steelhead will begin in the mid-May of 2004. The District may be rescuing and transporting three groups of steelhead, including smolts, kelts (spawned-out adults) and juveniles. The smolts and kelts will be transported downstream to the lagoon or ocean, while juveniles will be transported upstream to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility or permanent habitats above the Narrows. Given the increase in fish numbers and the likelihood of dry weather, additional help will be needed to successfully complete rescues under current conditions.

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